Somewhere along the way, small business culture decided that exhaustion equals success. We’ve been fed the narrative that if you’re not constantly bogged down by work, doubting yourself or chasing a specific number in your bank account then, clearly, you’re not doing it right.
Well, spoiler alert: that’s absolute nonsense.
The things we are starting to see normalized in entrepreneurial culture aren’t moving us forward but holding us back from happy and healthy businesses. This month, we’re hitting the reset button to gain clarity around what is actually toxic despite it trending.
Here are a few things it’s time to stop normalizing as small business brands.
#1 Being “Busy” All the Time
Say it with me: “busy” is not a badge of honor. This one falls under what many of us know as “hustle culture” where small businesses need to look like the Energizer bunny if they are really working toward success. Being constantly maxed out isn’t a sign of success – it’s a sign that something’s off. Working intentionally instead of endlessly is what needs to be normalized instead. Learning how to outsource, simplify, automate and say “no” are some of the best skills you could learn to have a successful business. Balance will always be the goal, not burnout.
#2 Identifying as an Imposter
Imposter syndrome is absolutely a real issue that business owners struggle with, especially women. The problem is that it’s become the default mindset for so many like it’s just part of the package. We joke about it, we post about it, we see it as something every woman in business struggles with when, in reality, it doesn’t have to be. Don’t give it permanent residence in your identity, acknowledge when it pops up, then show it the door. You aren’t an imposter – you are a woman building something she believes in that provides value to the world around her. “Confidence isn’t something you earn later; it’s something you practice now.”
#3 Reinventing the Content Wheel
We’ve got to stop pretending that new equals better! You already have incredible messaging and content, so stop adding to your overwhelm by trying to reinvent the wheel! Repurpose your Instagram posts for your newsletter, turn your blog posts into Reels or bring your best-performing stories back for an encore. Repetition builds recognition, and recognition builds trust. It’s not normal to keep creating more when what you have in front of you is more than valuable to your audience.
#4 Six Figures = Success
The six-figure obsession has got to go. Somewhere along the line, “success” got reduced to hitting this one amount, and it’s doing more harm than good. Let’s normalize building a business that’s sustainable, profitable and in alignment with your actual life goals, not a mere bank balance. Let’s create success metrics that include a business that brings us joy, supports our family, funds getaways and leaves breathing room!
#5 Doing It All Alone
Women-owned businesses love to wear independence like armor. Doing everything in your business by yourself isn’t what being a boss looks like, but bringing in the right resources is. Rather than highlighting solopreneurs doing things alone to become successful, how about normalizing collaborations and asking for help? Whether that means hiring a coach, outsourcing a piece of the business or joining a mastermind – growth doesn’t happen in isolation, and that’s perfectly okay.
It’s time we start asking, “is this helping me grow or making me focus on things that aren’t getting me closer to success?” Be bold, trust your gut, embrace what you do differently and throw all the “shoulds” out the window. If you’re a small brand, you don’t have time to waste on things that drain you, so focus on what sustains you instead!
Hustle & Heart Challenge
This month, take inventory of the thoughts you are having around success in your business. What is trying to keep you small rather than help you grow towards your version of success? Ditch whatever is keeping you caught up in comparison and overwhelm, and lean into what you know your new normal deserves to look like.
